Relationship between serum triglyceride levels and endothelial function in a large community-based study

It is established that low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events. Recently, circulating triglycerides level has been focused on as a risk factor for cardiovascular events. In this study, we evaluated the associations between triglycerides and endothelial function in a general population.

We analyzed data for 4887 subjects who were enrolled in the FMD-Japan registry. We investigated cross-sectional associations between serum triglyceride levels and endothelial function assessed by measurement of flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD).

Serum triglyceride levels were correlated with FMD (r = -0.12, p < 0.001). Subjects were divided into six groups based on serum triglyceride levels. FMD was significantly decreased with an increase in serum triglyceride levels (≤0.71 mmol/L, 7.0 ± 3.5%; 0.72-0.94 mmol/L, 6.3 ± 3.5%; 0.95-1.19 mmol/L, 6.0 ± 3.1%; 1.20-1.48 mmol/L, 5.8 ± 3.2%; 1.49-2.02 mmol/L, 5.7 ± 3.1%; ≥2.03 mmol/L, 5.5 ± 3.0%; p for trend <0.001). After adjustment for age, sex, and cardiovascular risk factors, including high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, serum triglyceride levels of more than 1.20 mmol/L were independently associated with the low quartile of FMD (1.20-1.48 mmol/L, odds ratio (OR) 1.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09 to 1.82; 1.49-2.02 mmol/L, OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.70; ≥2.03 mmol/L, OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.95) using serum triglyceride levels of less than 0.71 mmol/L group as the reference.

These findings suggest that triglycerides are an independent predictor of endothelial function. Lowering circulating triglyceride levels may improve endothelial function, leading to a decrease in cardiovascular events.

URL for Clinical Trial: http://UMIN; Registration Number for Clinical Trial: UMIN000003409.